Helpful services available across campus
Jennifer Pearsall/Pioneer
Daniel Bakewell, developmental math lab instructor, discusses math class options with Lori Roberds, physical therapy assistant major, in the Math Lab. The lab is located on the second floor of the Science, Engineering and Math Center.
MARK SMITH
Editor
editor@occc.edu
The beginning of a new semester can bring many obstacles to new and returning students.
OCCC offers several departments that specialize in helping students be more successful.
Academic Advising is where students can receive help with an academic plan for their major.
Sara McElroy, academic adviser, said the main purpose of Academic Advising is to help students develop their plan and choose courses that will move them toward graduation.
Meeting with an academic adviser is important, McElroy said.
She said students should call to set up an appointment.
Academic Advising is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays.
For more information, call 405-682-7535.
The Records and Graduation Services desk provides a variety of services associated with student record requests and international student services, said Alan Stringfellow, registrar.
These services include enrollment verifications, name and address changes, requesting official transcripts, printing ID cards and parking permits, evaluating transfer transcripts and receiving academic forgiveness paperwork, among others.
The office is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays.
For more information, call 405-682-7522.
Students in need of financial assistance can receive help in the college’s Student Financial Support department, said Alicia Harris, Financial Aid assistant director.
“We help with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, financial aid paperwork, and managing financial aid loan debt,” Harris said.
Harris said students should begin applying for financial aid for next fall.“The 2010 and 2011 FAFSA is online now,” she said.
Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays.
For more information, call 405-682-7525.
Students who need help finding jobs, writing résumés and cover letters, or practicing for interviews, can find help from Student Employment and Career Services, said Judi McGee, Employment Services coordinator.
Students also can find an online job board by visiting www.occc.edu/es and clicking on the link provided.
Students can visit the department 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays.
For more information, call 405-682-1611, ext. 7519.
Many clubs, organizations, honor societies and student support services are offered through Student Life.
Katie Treadwell, Service Learning and Student Life programs coordinator, said Brown Bag lunches — training seminars offered to students— cover topics such as succeeding in college, life skills, budgeting and relationships.
Student Life is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays.
For more information, call 405-682 7523.
Students who plan to transfer to a four-year college may want to use the resources available at the Transfer Center located in Academic Advising.
McElroy, transfer coordinator, said she assists students by advising them of the courses needed to transfer, scheduling university tours, and inviting several universities to come to the college’s transfer fair.
The transfer center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
For more information, call 405-682-7567.
To learn a new language, receive tutoring in foreign language classes, or learn about a particular culture, students should visit the World Languages and Cultures Center, said Chiaki Troutman, World Languages and Cultures Center lab assistant.
Troutman said the center offers tutoring, an international film collection, computers with the world-renowned Rosetta Stone foreign language software, and language workshops, among many other services.
The center is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays.
For more information, call 405-682-7560.
The Computer Center offers help and tutoring for most computer science and computer aided technology courses, said Michael Reeves, evening and weekend supervisor.
However, Reeves said, students don’t have to be enrolled in computer science courses to use the lab.
The center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Saturdays.
For more information, call 405-682-1611, ext. 7397.
Engineering students can benefit from the services offered in the Engineering Lab, said Greg Holland, engineering professor.
Holland said the Engineering Lab offers study space, access to engineering professors, free tutors, tools and equipment, and workshops.
Students can visit the lab from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays.
For more information, call 405-682-1611, ext. 7483.
OCCC offers plenty of services to help students remain active.
Students can use the weight room, gym and swimming pool for free.
In addition, there are several wellness classes offered for a reduced price to students, said Roxanna Butler, Recreation and Fitness director.
The Wellness Center is open from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
For more information, call 405-682-7860.
Students who need help with writing assignments can find help in the Communications Lab, said Tonya Kymes, lab supervisor.
The lab offers free tutoring in English, writing and other communication areas, Kymes said.
In addition, she said, students can use the computers for completing their assignments.
The lab is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays.
For more information, call 405-682-1611, ext. 7379.
In the Math Lab, students have access to a wide assortment of assistance with their assignments and tests, said Christine Peck, acting lab supervisor.
With more than 100 computers for study and homework, and instructional videos, students with any learning need can receive assistance, Peck said.
There also are developmental math instructors who specialize in helping students taking developmental courses, she said.
These courses include Basic Math, Elementary Algebra and Intermediate Algebra.
In addition to having textbooks the students can use in the lab, students unable to purchase a graphing calculators can lease one from the lab, she said.
The lab is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays, and 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays.
For more information, call 405-682-1611, ext. 7291.
The Biology Science Center helps students succeed in all biological science classes by offering tutoring, group and independent labs, state-of-the-art computers and study materials, said Virginia Hovda, lab supervisor.
Hovda said the center offers assistance in areas such as zoology, botany, anatomy and general biology.
Lab hours are 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
For more information, call 405-682-1611, ext. 7269.
Students needing help with chemistry and physical science courses should visit the Chemistry and Physical Science Center, said Betty Jo Higgins, lab supervisor.
Higgins said students can receive free tutoring and use the lab’s computers to work on their assignments.
The lab is open from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays, and 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays.
For more information, call 405-682-1611, ext. 7711.
Staff Writers Jennifer Pearsall and Whitney Knight contributed to this article.
